Derek Fildebrandt's motion to cut MLA pay falls flat

A motion proposing a five per cent pay cut for all MLAs failed to gain traction Monday in the Alberta legislature.

When Independent Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt tabled the motion Monday, it was met with stony silence, with no MLA willing to speak to it.

He later accused party whips of colluding to prevent debate about his motion.

“I was disappointed today that the one thing all parties should have been able to agree on was met with silence,” he said in a news release Monday night.

“I know that there were MLAs who supported the pay cut, but were told that they had to vote against it or stay out of the house. MLAs should be proud to stand in legislature and speak for their constituents.”

As for the refusal to allow a vote, Fildebrandt said: “If other MLAs are against a temporary pay cut for politicians, then they should at least have the guts to have their names recorded for a vote.”

For those playing along at home, Fildebrandt has tabled his private member's bill to cut MLA pay by 5%, and is speaking to it now. He wants it to be performance pay designed to get everyone thinking about balancing the budget. #ableg

Workers in the oil patch during the downturn would have been grateful for a 5% pay cut during the recession, Fildebrandt says, but they got 100% pay cuts. This isn't just cutting for the sake of it. #ableg

Fildebrandt wants a recorded vote on his bill to cut MLA pay by 5%. He hopes the silence of the house is an agreement to pass this bill. No, there will not be a recorded vote. Aaaand the motion fails. #ableg

To recap: Fildebrandt proposed a motion to cut MLA salaries by 5%. Nobody else would speak to it. He says that points to collusion between the major parties. The motion failed. In summary, MLAs will not see their salaries cut. #ableg

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